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Counter-metrical

Adjective
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Pertaining to poetic rhythm that resists the main metrical flow.

Detailed Definition
Counter-metrical refers to lines or sections that operate in opposition to the dominant meter of a poem, either through substitution, truncation, or hypermetric extension; such passages highlight semantic shifts or psychological states by destabilizing the poem’s rhythmic foundation, enhancing expressive range.
Example
Example in poetry:
Counter-metrical substitutions in traditional iambic; Epic hexameter line with substitutions; Wilful spondees disrupting meter; Milton’s blank verse resisting uniformity.
Additional Notes
Counter-metrical is the adjectival form of counter-metric, describing a line or feature that goes against the prevailing rhythm; its purposeful use is essential for rhythmic variation, not just error.
Also Known As
Against meter Non-metrical rhythm Counter-rhythm Antimetrical
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